Florida is being sold in one other state like an all-you-can-eat buffet at the most popular restaurant in town. Which state is it?
The Big Apple baby. The Empire State. New York, of course.
In New York City especially, Florida is avidly advertised on subways, in malls and on billboards.
And although many people from many other locations throughout the country and world have led to Florida's status as the fastest growing state in 2022, NYC tops the list with nearly 65,000 people trading in their New York driver's license for a Florida license.
"The 2022 exodus marks a 39% increase in outbound migration to Florida from New York compared to the last pre-pandemic year of 2019 — and a resounding 46% surge compared to just five years ago in 2017."
This is according to a recent New York Post article by Selma Algar.
Nothing new really, as this has been happening for years, but it just seems to be happening at an increasingly alarming rate.
Why are New Yorkers moving to Florida in such drastic numbers?
While some of the influx may be due to great weather, sunny beaches, lower taxes and an overall more economical cost of living, politics seems to be a hugely popular reason as well. It's well-known that as the country as a whole becomes increasingly polarized, so do the cities and towns across America.
And of course, Gov. Ron DeSantis loves to rub this into the noses of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Notable moves:
- Former President Donald Trump has, without a doubt, been the most publicized relocator from New York City to South Florida.
- Investor and billionaire Carl Icahn moved his operations from NYC to Florida between 2019 and 2020.
- NYPD officers are moving to Florida in droves, according to this report by CBS New York, partially due to sweet incentives from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
- Many people who have the luxury of working remotely have successfully been lured from New York to Florida.
- Wall Street banks and tech companies, according to this Forbes article.
Even more companies, while not outright moving, have established a stronger footprint on Florida soil, like Alvin Valley, Blackstone and Goldman Sachs.
Other states that people are fleeing from for the Sunshine State include California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Texas, a state that has many of the same advantages as Florida for many, has been a popular place for people to head as well.
Will the mass Exodus continue?